The AMAA–Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Medicine

Benefits of Membership in the American MedAesthetic Association:

Our Mission

The American MedAesthetic Association (AMAA) educates, serves, and represents physicians, oral surgeons and dentists (where legally applicable), nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, and other medically licensed practitioners who practice minimally invasive aesthetic medicine and associated areas of interest, but are not the core specialists of plastic surgery or dermatology. Non-Core, or as we now term, “MedAesthetic Practitioners (MAP),” now constitute more than half of the minimally invasive aesthetic medicine practitioners in the USA and are actually the “New Core” in cosmetic medicine. A few aesthetic medicine organizations are open to both Core and Non-Core participation, but are directed primarily by Core physicians, who necessarily must represent the interests of both Core and Non-Core physicians, reflected by their more generic membership. Consequently, more than half of the lectures and training programs may be on surgical advances and techniques–completely unusable by non-surgeons. By focusing only on what our members actually do–and what they really want–we make every hour and dollar count towards maximizing education in the latest and best advances of minimally invasive aesthetic medicine. [learn more…]

We believe MedAesthetic Practitioners are deserving of an organization dedicated specifically to us, as well as an identity of our own–instead of simply being termed Non-Core. Initial focus is on the fundamentals of minimally invasive aesthetic medicine and associated areas of interest including: neurotoxins, cosmetic injectable fillers, microcannula use, thread-lifts, IPL, lasers, radio-frequency, Platelet-Rich Plasma, microneedling, stem cells, skin care, cosmoceuticals, and chemical peels. The AMAA is also a strong proponent of teaching a crucial aspect of success in aesthetic medicine–virtually neglected by medical training programs–the business of medicine.

The AMAA welcomes Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons–who are dedicated to teaching all–as advisers and faculty to share their knowledge with us in recognition that aesthetic medicine research and advances are directly attributable to Core Physicians–but also is inclusive of MAP who have become experts in their focused clinical areas.

The American MedAesthetic Association recommends all members preferentially attend these MAP friendly conferences: The Aesthetic Show (TAS) and The American Society of Cosmetic Physicians (ASOCP). They have been exemplary in welcoming all aesthetic practitioners to participate, regardless of medical specialty.

The AMAA is the only organization exclusively dedicated to representing and serving only MedAesthetic Practitioners and educating and training them to strive for the highest clinical cosmetic standards on behalf of the patients they serve.

Our Vision

The Aesthetic Award for “Best Facial Injectable Enhancement” Physician in the USA

To train MedAesthetic Practitioners (Non-Core) to the highest clinical proficiency and to be recognized as dedicated and skilled practitioners in minimally invasive aesthetic medicine and associated areas of special interest.

We believe that by focusing on clinical excellence in this single area, we can meet or exceed the standard of care of Core physicians who must achieve minimal competency standards, or Board Certification, among a multitude of areas. We acknowledge that the best Plastic Surgeons are in surgery most of the time, and that the nurse or physician assistant–who does it full-time–may actually be even more skilled in minimally invasive medicine.

Now that MedAesthetic Practitioners are the majority of minimally invasive aesthetic practitioners in the country, it is time to realize that the future of aesthetic medicine in the USA includes us. We believe the formula of the future will be MedAesthetic Practitioners and Dermatologists who refer their patients to Plastic Surgeons associated with them in collaboration–instead of competition–for the benefit of our mutual patients. Indeed, the AMAA believes that Plastic Surgeons who meet this challenge will find their MAP associates will refer far more patients than they can handle.

The AMAA also recognizes that limitations must be set so that MedAesthetic Practitioners do not venture into areas beyond their scope of training for the safety of their patients. Consequently, AMAA policy is that surgery should be limited only to residency trained surgeons. Moreover, since AMAA members are primarily clinicians, we acknowledge that clinical research will primarily be in the realm of the Core specialties, hence the AMAA particularly welcomes Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons as advisers and faculty to share their knowledge with us.

Any MedAesthetic Practitioner may become a member of the AMAA, but AMAA Certification requirements include minimal training in the areas of practice and a declaration of alignment with the policies of the AMAA including supervision of staff (or quick access), 24-hour MAP chart documentation, and diagnosis and treatment plan directly by the MAP prior to treatment. MAP Certification only signifies that a minimal amount of training has been met and does not signify expertise in these areas. AMAA Membership only identifies that the individual is a MAP and does not signify any completion of training. We invite Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists to join us as faculty and AMAA Affiliates; Aestheticians, Aesthetic Technicians, and Medical Assistants are invited to join as AMAA Associates.